The podcast episode features Linda Olson, the founder and CEO of Tampa Bay Wave, interviewing Paul Harris and Steve Kyler from DCE Productions. DCE Productions is a full-service production company specializing in corporate events. The episode discusses the history of DCE, its response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and its involvement in the Tampa Bay innovation community.

Paul Harris explains that DCE was started about 10 years ago in Tampa with the aim of providing better audiovisual production and in-house experiences for corporate events. The idea for DCE came about when a friend had a bad experience with audiovisual services at an event in Seattle. Inspired by this, Paul and his team decided to start their own production company.

During the first few years, DCE faced challenges but managed to grow through word-of-mouth referrals. They served nearly 900 unique customers and organized around 3,200 events in their first 10 years. However, the COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on their business. With the event industry coming to a halt, DCE had to adapt quickly. They shifted to virtual events and leveraged their experience in remote town halls to offer virtual meeting solutions. In 2020, they organized around 400 virtual events, and in 2021, they did nearly 375 virtual events. This transition to virtual events allowed them to form new partnerships and expand their reach beyond Tampa Bay.

The podcast also highlights DCE's involvement in the Tampa Bay innovation community. They were one of the founding partners of the Synapse Summit, a major event in the region. DCE has been supportive of various projects, including building a podcast studio for Tampa Bay Wave. They also collaborated with the USF Muma College of Business to develop a certificate program called "Post Crisis Leadership" during the pandemic. The program received overwhelming response and required DCE to create a virtual production stage in their warehouse to accommodate the participants.

Overall, the podcast episode showcases DCE Productions' journey from its inception to navigating the challenges posed by the pandemic. It highlights their commitment to innovation and their active role in the Tampa Bay community.

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